Androgens modulate testicular androgen production in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) depending on the stage of maturity and type of androgen.

Previous work showed that androgen treatment suppressed testicular steroidogenesis in juvenile African catfish Clarias gariepinus. Similar to other vertebrates, however, circulating androgen levels increase during puberty in catfish. We therefore studied if androgen-induced inhibition of androgen production decreases during sexual maturation.